Creative force that gives young people new life chances
STUDENTS FROM eight Wakefield sixth-form colleges and schools attended an event at a creative hub aimed at promoting careers in the live events industry
Production Park, in South Kirkby, is home to every element of the industry, from set construction through to rehearsals and tour catering.
It also houses Backstage Academy, where the next generation of technicians learn their skills and work towards degree-accredited qualifications.
In collaboration with Go Higher West Yorkshire, which prepares students for higher education, Access All Areas saw sixth-formers and their parents watch performances, hear from professionals from the industry and take part in demonstrations from some of the region’s higher education institutions.
The invitation-only event was geared to highlight to sixth-formers who may not be considering university that not all degrees are the same.
The students saw the diversity of courses and career options, including planning, staging, lighting, catering, costume design and make up, and were given the chance to quiz live events practitioners.
They were also given an insight from Glen Rowe, managing director of Backstage Academy, about his own career as a tour director for Muse and they discovered how the faculty combines classroom learning with on-tour work experience.
As one of the fastest growing industries in the UK, Production Park and Backstage Academy are hoping to attract some of the most talented sixth-formers.
Mr Rowe said: “I have had a fantastically rewarding and diverse career in live events. No two days are the same because you are never in the same location for long.
“In addition, it is a growing industry contributing £90bn plus annually to the UK economy and offering opportunities to skilled and ambitious young people. Access all Areas is designed to prove that degree courses are constructed to be relevant and lead to rewarding careers.”